You’ve read the marketing material about Minn Kota’s Digital Maximizer technology. It sounds great!
Up to Five Times Longer Run Time on a Single Charge.
https://minnkota.com.au/technology-items/digital-maximizer-fresh/
5x longer run time? Yes please! But does it work and is it worth the extra $$$?
Let’s find out.
How does the Digital Maximizer work?
To find out what makes Digital Maximizer motors work more efficiently, let’s first have a look at how traditional trolling motors work. (The Fisherman’s Electrical Manual is a good read if you want to know the details.)
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However, inflatable fishing boats have made the life of fishing enthusiasts much easier.
I’ve been using SIBs for fishing for years, and have tried many types of inflatable watercraft during this time.
In this detailed guide, I will list my top picks for the best inflatable fishing boats in 2019. I will also cover the most important factors you need to consider when making your choice.
If you like fishing, you may have faced the handling, transportation and storage problems involved with a traditional rigid fishing boat. It’s perhaps one of the biggest reasons for avid anglers to give up their hobby.
Let’s get started, the fish don’t wait!
Can You Use an Inflatable Boat for Fishing?
Although inflatable boats are by no means new to the market, older models weren’t tough enough to bear the heavy wear and tear that’s normally caused during fishing.
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You already know what an electric trolling motor is, but have you heard of remote control trolling motors?
These innovative motors make a fisherman’s job much-much easier by allowing for remote control of the boat.
And there is more!
The best RC systems actually automate steering and thrust control using GPS coordinates, so a fisherman can fish without having to control the boat.
Let’s dive into how they work and which ones are good.
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What is the easiest way to haul your inflatable boat? Put the whole thing on a trailer, of course. If you have the space to store it and the time to drive a bit slower (due to towing), inflatable boat trailers are great.
In this detailed guide, you will learn all about how to choose a trailer, what modifications you may need, and how to tow it as well.
Let’s get started!
How to choose a trailer for an inflatable boat
There are several things you need to pay attention to when buying a trailer for your SIB (but not as many as you would need for a traditional boat). Read more
So you’ve bought your new inflatable boat, only to realize the valve looks way different than the one on the inflatable raft you had when you were a kid.
Reading the instructions, you realize it is a Halkey-Roberts valve. But how do you use it?
What on Earth is a Halkey-Roberts valve?
The Halkey-Roberts valve (also called HR valve) is a one-way check valve. It makes the inflation and deflation of inflatable items as quick as possible, because it does not let air out while you are pumping into it.
HR valves are the most popular valve types you’ll find on high-end inflatable boats.
As you can see on the image below, it has 3 core elements:
- The base, which is built into the rubber tube (far left)
- The middle part, which is screwed into the base (mid)
- The cap, which is screwed onto the middle part (far right)
In this review of the dinghies made by Newport Vessels, my focus will be on the different specs and features that make them the remarkable inflatable sports tenders they are. I’ll also consider their production process, how they stack up against the competition, as well as what comes with a Newport Vessels sports boat.
I have ridden in several models, and have a definite opinion on the boats. Let’s have a look!
Features of the boat
The various boats Newport Vessels offers differ by size, but are basically the same with regard to durability and construction.
They have 2 lines of boats, one with a high-pressure air floor, and the other with marine plywood hard floor. Read more
Trolling motor batteries can get heavy. If you want to keep the weight of your gear to a minimum, your battery is a good place to start.
Choosing a lightweight trolling motor battery is important for kayakers and inflatable boaters looking to cut back on the overall weight of their gear. Pontoon boat owners with more powerful motors that need 24V or 36V batteries will also benefit from lighter batteries.
The compromise?
With AGM batteries, it is power capacity. Light AGM batteries will store less energy, meaning that their Amp Hour (Ah) rating will be lower than that of larger batteries.
With lithium batteries, it is the price. They weigh 3-4 times less than similar AGM batteries, but lithium batteries cost 4-8 times more.
Let’s have a look at a few light AGM and lithium batteries.
| Mighty Max ML18-12 | VMAX V35-857 | Mighty Max ML35-12 | Renogy 50 Ah | Smart Battery - 50 Ah | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weight (lbs) | 11.90 | 25 | 23.15 | 14.77 | 15 |
| Capacity (Ah) | 18 | 35 | 35 | 50 | 50 |
| Size (inch) | 7.13 x 3.01 x 6.57 | 7.7 x 5 x 6.1 | 7.68 x 5.16 x 7.13 | 7.75 x 6.53 x 6.73 | 7.7 x 6.45 x 6.75 |
| Type | AGM | AGM | AGM | Lithium | Lithium |
| Price check | Amazon | Amazon | Amazon | Amazon | Site |
If you run a trolling motor on your boat or any other accessories that need to be powered (stereo, fish finder, etc), you will need a marine battery. While searching for batteries, you will come across the term battery group size. But what are battery group sizes exactly?
What is the meaning of Battery Group Size?
The term “battery group size” simply refers to the battery’s physical case size. It is a specification that you’ll find on all boat batteries.
It is basically the physical measurements of the battery casing as set by the Battery Council International (BCI). The height, width, and length of a battery specify its group size.
You should be able to locate the group size of your battery on the labels.
Here are a few things to keep in mind about battery group sizes:
- A smaller group size generally indicates a larger battery.
- Conversely, a larger group size generally indicates a smaller battery.
Depending on what kind of boating you plan on doing, the weight of your supplies can really add up.
No matter whether you are looking to place a trolling motor on an inflatable boat, a kayak, pontoon boat, etc., you will need to take the weight of the motor and the marine battery into consideration when planning your trip.
In this article, you’ll find info comparing the weight of different classes of trolling motors, as well as the batteries that power them.
For most people looking to buy an electric trolling motor, the 55lb thrust models are an ideal pick.
Why?
- Trolling motors weaker than 55lb will struggle when the weather turns against us or the boat is overloaded
- Stronger than 55lb thrust motors are more expensive, require more battery power, and are only a necessity if the joint weight of the boat + load is over 2000 lbs / 900 kg or if the boat is longer than 16 feet.
Trolling motors with 55 lb of thrust are perfect for inflatable boats, kayaks, and fishing boats.
Top 55lb thrust electric trolling motors
Here is my list of the best motors in the 55lb range.
| Newport Vessels NV 55lb | Newport Vessels X 55lb | Minn Kota Endura 55lb | Minn Kota Endura Max 55lb | Minn Kota Riptide 55lb | Goplus 55lb | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Handle | Extendable (6″) | Extendable (6″) + 30° up/down | Extendable (6″) | Extendable (6″) | Extendable (6″) | Extendable (6″) |
| Water | Saltwater & freshwater | Saltwater & freshwater | Freshwater | Freshwater | Saltwater & freshwater | Freshwater & saltwater |
| Shaft length | 30″ | 36″ | 36″ / 42″ | 36″ / 42″ | 36″ / 42″ | 36″ |
| Weight | 24 lbs | 24 lbs | 23 lbs | 24 lbs | 24 lbs | 22 lbs |
| Battery meter | 5 point LED | 10 point LED | none | 4 point LED | 4 point LED | 10 point LED |
| Warranty | 2 years | 2 years | 2 years | 2 years | 2 year | no info |
| Price check | Amazon | Amazon | Amazon | Amazon | Amazon | Amazon |
Let’s have a look at them in more detail. Read more